Angle punch unit



June: 10, 1947. H. J. BECKER ANGLE PUNCH, UNIT Filed Sept. '4, 1945 INVENTOR HENRY J. BECKER ATTORNEYS Patented June 10, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ANGLE PUNCH UNIT Henry J. Becker, Floral Park, N. Y., assignor to Boeing Aircraft Company, Seattle, Wash., a corporation of Washington Application September 4, 1945, Serial No. 614,277

13 Claims. 1 In various manufacturing operations, and especially in aircraft manufacture, it is frequently desirable to punch holes in angled flanges of large sheets, whereby after fitting the sheet and flange to other structure, the parts can be secured by bolts or rivets. The angularity of the flange may vary, either within the length of a single flange, or as between the flanges of successive sheets to be punched. Punch presses are not well adapted to such operation for the flange must be held horizontally, and the sheet, perhaps of large area must depend below the press bed; hand punches are inconvenient and slow, particularly if there. are a number of such holes to be punched along the length of a given flange.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an angle punch unit, for use with a standard punch tool, whereby by the use of a standard press ram and bed, and by the employment of means for quickly adjusting the angularity of the punch tool, such operation can be effected quickly, conveniently, and accurately, and with a minimum of eiTort on the part of the workman.

Thus, it is an object to provide a unit of the character indicated, which is adapted to receive a common type of punch tool known as a Strippet punch, somewhat modified, and which will cooperate with such a punch tool in any adjusted position of the latter to move the punch thereof into operative relationship to its die, and thus to punch a flange located over the die, whatever may be the angle of the flange, within reasonable limits.

The invention is adapted also to the employment of gang punches, but the description will be confined to a single punch unit, and it will be obvious how the principles thereof may be incorporated in a gang punch.

In the accompanying drawings the invention is shown in a presently preferred form, and in association with a somewhat modified Strippet punch of standard or conventional construction, but the principles thereof, as explained herein after, may be adapted to various forms of execution.

The invention comprises the novel punch unit, alone or in combination with the standard punch tool, as shown in the accompanying drawings, described in this specification, and as will be more particularly defined by the claims.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the unit, with parts shown in the relaxed position, ready to receive a piece of work, and Figure 2 is a vertical section longitudinally of the same, showing parts in the relaxed position in full lines, and in dotdash lines in the operative position.

The strippets punch unit includes a die and a punch 90, constituting a punch tool supported in the punch tool housing 9|, which housing guides the punch for linear movement into and from operative relationship with the die, and various auxiliary devices, such as the stripper sleeve 92', stripper spring 93., punch return spring 94, and spacer sleeve 95, as required, between the spring 94 and the outwardly protruding head 96 of the punch. As will be understood, there is a recess 91 between the die 9 and the punch and stripper 92, for the reception of the work. The work, in Figure 2, is indicated as a sheet S of indefinite lateral extent having flange F at an angle thereto, which flange is to be punched.

The punch tool housing 9|, in this arrangement, has a lower surface 98 which is generally curved, and preferably the curvature is on a radius centered at about the entrance to the die 9. In addition this curved surface is corrugated transversely. The punch housing 9! is also slotted, as indicated at 99, and this slot is arranged generally chordwise of the generally curved surface of the punch tool housing, so that it is inclined with respect both to the vertical and to the horizontal in substantially all angularly adjusted positions of the housing relative to the latters support within the range of its adjustment.

The punch unit proper comprises a frame or base generally indicated by the numeral I. There may be, if desired, a base plate It] to which the member I is suitably secured and whereon it is located by means such as the screws l! and pin I2, and such a base may extend under and properly locate relatively a plurality of such punch units. Instead of the screws 1 I and pin l2, known means may be used to locate several units at varying distances, one from another. The base is intended to rest upon the bed of a press, to be secured thereto, and is in effect a fixed member or base of reaction.

Guided for reciprocation within the base i is a plunger 2 which projects upwardly above the base for engagement by the ram of the press, upon the bed of which the base is secured. Descent of the ram will effect downward movement of the plunger 2. However, this movement is not vertical; while it has a vertical component, it has also a lateral component, as is indicated by comparison of the full and dot-dash line positions of Figure 2. To this end the plunger and the base are provided with complement-a1 reaction surfaces, such as are indicated by the surfaces at 21, preferably inclined at an angle of approximately d5 degrees to vertical. By such means a given downward movement of the plunger will effect equal lateral movement thereof. The plunger is also provided with a curved surface 22 which engages the projecting head 96 of the punch. Its curvature, in its relaxed or uppermost position, is preferably on a radius centered at the entrance to the die. By providing stop surfaces l2, the spring 94 tends always to return the plunger 2 to its upward limit position. Other separate means may be provided to this end, if preferred, but are deemed unnecessary.

The base I is curved, as indicated at E8, matching the curved surface 98 of the punch housing 9|, and is also complementally corrugated. By provision of a pin 19 Within the slot 99, carried by a draw bar 3 horizontally guided for movement in the base, and capable of being drawn to the right by a screw 3| or similar means, the punch housings! may be secured quickly and yet firmly to dispose the punch plunger in any angularly adjusted position relative to horizontal, within limits, and the interengaged corrugations of the punch unit and the base prevent any rotation from such adjusted position.

As will now be clear, the punch housing may be adjusted into any desired angular position, conformable to the angularity of the flange F, between horizontal and some more nearly upright position. Now when the plunger 2 is depressed by a press ram or by the application of a similar force, the lateral component given to the plunger by the inclined surfaces 2! will effect movement of the plunger generally in alignment with the direction of reciprocation of the punch plunger; and thereby such plunger transmits linear movement to the punch 90, moving the latter, whatever the adjustedposition of the punch tool, into operative relationship with its die 9, and punching the required hole in the flange F. The plunger head will, of course, slide laterally relative to the press ram during the punching stroke, and limited sliding movement will occur between the plunger and the punch head 96 if the punch is not precisely parallel to the inclined surfaces 2|.

During this operation the workman need only support the sheet S in approximately horizontal position, and properly locate the flange with relation to the punch and die. Immediately the hole is punched the press ram is permitted to rise, the punch is retracted by its spring 96, and this spring also moves the plunger 2 back upwardly to its initial position, such movement being limited by abutment of the stop surfaces 12. Whenever it is desired to adjust the angularity of the punch tool, it is only necessary to slack off the screw 3! sufficiently to disengage the corrugations in the curved surfaces I8 and 98 and to adjust the punch unit to the new position, whereupon it is again clamped and held by tightening the screw 3|.

It has been made clear above that the form illustrated herein is one which has been found practical, but it is not intended to restrict the invention to this embodiment alone. For example, were the matching surfaces 98 and I8 of the punch housing and base to be extended, and the upper surface of the base to be relieved or offset, the punch housings axis might be adjustable both below and above the horizontal. Adjustment below the horizontal would enable punching of holes in acutely angled flanges, but since acutely angled flanges are seldom employed because of limitations of usually employed metalforming processes, this is of minor importance, though feasible. Were the tool to be adjustable below the horizontal, some alteration of the reaction surfaces at 2| might be necessary, and it might be necessary to relieve the plunger or the base I to permit more extended relative movement. However, as to alteration of the reaction surfaces at 2|, it will be evident that their formation must in all cases be complemental to the formation of the reaction surfaces between the plunger 2 and punch 90, at 22; both such sets of reaction surfaces must be so chosen and formed that, within the intended range of adjustment, a lateral component Will be produced such that the punch will be given the necessary lengthwise movement. Indeed, it is immaterial whether both such sets of reaction surfaces afford a component lengthwise of the punch, so long as one or the other, or the two additively, afford such a component within al1 positions throughout the intended range of adjustment.

I claim as my invention:

1. An angle punch unit comprising a base, a die, a cooperating punch, a punch housing supporting the die and punch, and guiding the punch for operative linear movement relative to its die, means to secure said punch housing upon the base in any one of a plurality of angularly adjusted positions, and a plunger guided in said base for movement vertically, the base and plunger having cooperating inclined surfaces affording a lateral component of movement to the plunger coincident with its vertical movement, a surface of the plunger being disposed for engagement with said punch, in any of the latters adjusted positions, to shift it axially into operative engagement with its die.

2. An angle punch unit, for use with a punch tool assembly which includes a die, a punch, and a punch housing supporting the same and guiding the punch for operative linear movement relative to the die, which angle punch unit comprises a base separate from said assembly, adapted for support'upon a press bed, means to secure the punch tool assembly upon the base in any one of a plurality of angularly adjusted positions intermediate horizontal and a more nearly upright position, and a plunger guided in the base for vertical movement under the influence of a descending press ram, and for engagement and movement of the punch, said base and said plunger each having action and reaction surfaces cooperating to effect a lateral shifting of the plunger coincident with its downward movement, of sufiicient extent to move the punch in any angularly adjusted position of the'punch tool assembly into operative engagement with its die.

3. An angle punch unit as defined in claim 2, the base being arranged to effect angular adjustment of the punch tool about the intersection of the punchs axis with the die entrance, as a center.

4. An angle punch unit as defined in claim 1, the surface of the plunger engageable with the punch being curved about a center in the vicinity of the center of the dies entrance.

5. An angle punch unit as defined in claim 1, the surface of the plunger engageable with the punch being curved about a center in the vicinity of the center of the dies entrance, and the cooperating surfaces of the plunger and base being inclined at approximately 45 to the vertical.

6. An angle punch unit as defined in claim 2, the plunger being curved about a center in the vicinity of the dies entrance, with such curved surface disposed to engage the punch, the base being arranged for adjustment of the punch tool angularly about the same center.

7. An angle punch unit, for use with a punch tool which includes a die and a cooperating punch, said angle punch unit comprising a punch tool housing supporting the die and punch and guiding the punch for operative linear movement relative to the die, said punch tool housing having a generally curved surface curved on a radius centered in the vicinity of the die, a base curved to match the curvature of said punch tool housing to engage the same for adjustment about the center of curvature of its generally curved surface, means to secure said punch tool housing in any one of a plurality of positions adjusted angularly about such center, a plunger guided in said base for movement under the influence of a downwardly moving press ram, and disposed to contact the punchs outer end in each of the adjusted positions of said punch tool housing, and means reacting between the base, the plunger, and the punch to displace the punch laterally as the plunger descends, to move the punch into operative relation with its die, and in any adjusted position of the punch tool housing.

8. An angle punch unit, for use with a punch tool which includes a die and a cooperating punch, said angle punch unit comprising a punch tool housing supporting the die and punch and guiding the punch for operative linear movement relative to the die, said punch tool housing having a generally curved surface curved on a radius centered in the vicinity of the die, a base curved to match the curvature of said punch tool housing to engage the same for adjustment about the center of such curvature, means to secure said punch tool housing in any one of a plurality of positions adjusted angularly about such center, a plunger guided in said base for downward movement under the influence of a press ram, and having a surface curved about a similarly located center engaging the outer end of the punch, and means reacting between the base and the plunger to displace the plunger laterally towards the punch as the plunger descends, to transmit linear movement to the punch, to move the latter into operative relation to its die, in any adjusted position of the punch tool housing.

9. An angle punch unit, for use with a punch tool which includes a die and a cooperating punch, said angle punch unit comprising a punch tool housing supporting the die and punch and guiding the punch for operative linear movement relative to the die, said punch tool housing having a generally curved surface curved on a radius centered in the vicinity of the die, a base curved to match the curvature of said punch tool housing to engage the same for adjustment about the center of such curvature, means to secure said punch tool housing in any one of a plurality of positions adjusted angularly about such center, a plunger guided in said base for downward movement under the influence of a press ram, and having a surface curved about a similarly located center engaging the outer end of the punch, the plunger and the base having complemental inclined surfaces engageable to displace the plunger laterally towards the punch as the plunger descends, to transmit linear movement to the punch, to move the latter into operative relation to its die, in any adjusted position of the punch tool housing.

10. An angle punch unit as defined in claim 7, the punch tool housing having, on its curved surface, a plurality of transverse corrugations, and. the base having corresponding corrugations, and the punch tool housing having a slot therein 6 extending generally chordwise of its generally curved surface, a draw bar guided within the base for substantially horizontal lengthwise movement, and carrying a pin received in such punch tool housing slot, and means for forcing the draw bar lengthwise away from the punch tool housing,

to press the corrugated surfaces of the housing and base into engagement to secure them in an adjusted position of the punch tool housing.

11. An angle punch unit as defined in claim 2, the punch housing having a slot inclined relative to the horizontal and vertical in all positions within the range of the punch tools adjustment, the punch housing and base being formed with cooperating means interengageable to prevent their relative angular movement, and the means to secure the punch tool in an adjusted position comprising a transverse pin received in such punch housing slot, and means guided in the base to move said pin for release or for securement of said punch housing and base cooperating means in a definite interengaged relationship.

12. An angle punch unit, for use with a punch tool assembly which includes a die, a punch, and a punch housing supporting both of the same and guiding the punch for operative linear movement relative to the die, which angle punch unit comprises a base adapted for support upon a press bed, means to secure the punch tool assembly upon the base in any one of a plurality of angularly adjusted positions approaching and departing from the horizontal, and a plunger guided in the base for movement relative thereto under the influence of a descending press ram, and for engagement and movement of the punch, said base and said plunger, and said plunger and said punch, having complemental reaction surfaces so relatively shaped as to effect a longitudinal shifting of the punch in its housing into operative relation to the die, by reason of ram-induced movement of the plunger.

13. An angle punch unit for use with a punch tool assembly which includes a die, a punch, and a punch housing supporting both thereof and guiding the punch for operative linear movement relative to the die, which angle punch unit comprises a base adapted for support upon a press bed, means to secure the punch tool assembly upon the base in any one of a plurality of angularly adjusted positions in a vertical plane, a plunger guided in the base for substantially vertical movement under the influence of a descending press ram, and means formed and arranged for transmission of force from the plunger, so descending, to the punch, in any angularly adjusted position of the latter, to effect movement of the punch in the direction of its length and. towards and past the die.

HENRY J. BECKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,671,619 Vance May 29, 1928 2,329,020 Wales Sept. 7, 1943 2,340,162 Whistler Jan. 25, 1944 1,812,046 Groehn June 30, 1931 2,202,894 Bihler June 4, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 440,076 Germany Jan. 27, 1927 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,421,864. June 10, 1947. HENRY J. BECKER It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Column 2, line 1, for strippets read Strippet; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 12th day of August, A. D. 1947.

LESLIE FRAZER,

First Assistant Commissioner of Patents. 

